MECH 345: Mechanics of Fluids I Experiment #4 Pressure Distribution, Lift and Drag on an Airfoil

Objectives:
The objectives of this experiment are: 1. To examine the effect of angle of attack on the pressure distribution on an airfoil 2. To investigate the effect of angle of attack on lift and drag 3. To investigate the effect of slots and flaps.

Background:
The most common application of airfoils is aircraft lifting surfaces (wing, elevator, rudder). Airfoils are also a crucial component of turbo-machinery (such as turbines, pumps and fans) and propellers. The usual explanation for lift is that the air velocity over the top of the wing is faster than the mean velocity, whereas that along the lower side is slower than the mean. Bernoullis theorem then implies a lower pressure on the top and a higher pressure on the bottom, resulting in a net upward lift.

Figure 1 - Streamlines and pressure distribution about an airfoil

Two important airfoil parameters, lift and drag, are usually expressed as dimensionless coefficients:

(1)

(2) In airfoil theory, the increased velocity over the top and the decreased velocity on the bottom is explained in terms of a circulation which is induced by the relative motion of the wing with respect to the flow field. The concept of circulation is very important in the analysis of various aerodynamic and hydrodynamic problems. The analysis assumes ideal fluid flow and is justified by the fact that for streamlined bodies at high Reynolds numbers, viscous effects are confined to a very thin boundary layer. The analysis yields realistic predictions of lift with one glaring exception. In real life, when the angle of attack exceeds a certain value, flow separation occurs on the top surface. This phenomenon is known as stall and is essentially a viscous effect. An important result from inviscid airfoil theory is: (3) This result states that the lift coefficient is linearly proportional to angle of attack and that the lift slope is

Apparatus:
The tests will be performed in the low-speed wind tunnel. This wind tunnel has an octagonal test section (0.3m 0.3m, 0.45m long). The tunnel air speed is indicated in m/s on a sloping manometer connected to a manifold surrounding the upstream end of the test section. For the first part of the experiment the following equipment will be used: Symmetrical NACA 0015 airfoil section equipped with eleven chord wise pressure taps fitted flush with the surface of the airfoil along the mid-span. Cover plates to be used to block the slot in the base of the tunnel after model has been mounted. Inclined manometer board equipped with twenty tubes. Pitot-static tube.

For the second part of the experiment, the following apparatus will be used: NACA 0015 airfoil equipped with an adjustable leading edge slot and a trailing edge flap. Two-component aerodynamic balance.

Note: when taking measurements it is essential that an appropriately sized cover plate is positioned over the slot in the base of the tunnel. Failure to comply will result in poor characteristic curves caused by air having a transverse velocity component.

Procedure:
1. Pressure distribution: Tilt the manometer board to and adjust the height of the reservoir to adjust the manometer levels to a convenient height. Note that the wind-tunnel test section is under suction. It is therefore necessary to use the static pressure measured by the Pitot-static tube as a datum. Adjust the angle of attack to , the wind tunnel speed to 12 m/s, and record the static and stagnation pressures (Pitot) and the pressure distribution for the lower and upper surface. Note that the model is equipped with pressure taps on one surface only. Pressure distributions on the upper and lower surface are obtained at positive and negative angles of attack. Repeat measurement at for the same airspeed. Measure the location of the pressure taps directly from the model and plot the pressure distributions of the upper and lower surfaces. For the case , extrapolate the pressure distributions to the trailing edge, and integrate (graphically or numerically) the pressure distributions. The area between the upper and lower surface pressure distributions is the force N normal to the chord per length of span. Calculate the lift, , and the corresponding lift coefficient . Calculate the wind tunnel flow velocity from the Pitot-static reading using:

(4)

( and are the free stream static pressure and density) and compare the result with the direct reading of the wind-tunnel velocity. 2. Lift and Drag Dismount pressure wing. Install the two beam balances on the support. Adjust the leading edge slot and the trailing edge flap to fully retracted positions, and mount the airfoil on the balance vertical rod. Adjust the counterbalance weights for null deflection. Note: the drag counterbalance weight has to be adjusted for zero deflection after each change of . Record lift and drag data in 4 increments for the following cases: 1. 2. 3. 4. Airfoil alone: Airfoil alone: Airfoil with split flap: Airfoil with leading edge slot:

Calculate the lift and drag coefficients, and the Reynolds number (based on the
3

chord). Plot CL vs. for cases 1 and 2 on the same graph. Plot CL vs. for cases 1,3 and 4 on the same graph. Plot CD vs. CL for cases 1,3 and 4 on the same graph. Comment on the differences between the actual CL values and equation (3). Compare the CL value obtained by integration of the pressure distribution to that measured with the balance.

Sample Discussion Points:

The following must be covered in the discussion of your results. They must not be treated as questions, but rather as guiding points to ensure that your discussion is complete What is the effect of stall on the pressure distribution ? How significant is Reynolds number variation to lift and drag ? What is the effect of the leading edge slot on the flow? What is the effect of the trailing edge flap on the flow? From an aircraft operation point of view, what is the significance of CL at minimum CD ? How do the walls of the wind-tunnel affect the flow?